Sprinkler-stopping device.



v No. 866,933.

PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907. I A. E. JOHNSON.

SPRINKLER STOPPING, DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAB-16. 190'!- lll llas. y'

UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

ADOLF E. JOHNSON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

SPRINKLER-STOPPING DEVICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907;.

Application filed March 16, 1907. Serial No. 362,768-

companying drawing.

' This invention relates to a hand operated stopping device for sprinkler heads, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive and effective device that.

may be readily manipulated by hand to plug or tempor'arily close the aperture in a sprinkler head to prevent the water from issuing therefrom, if for any cause the original fuse plug should become broken or inadvertently displaced.

It is found in practice where an automatic sprinkler system is installed that from time to time one of the fusible stopping plugs in the heads become broken or otherwise removed, causing the head to leak. In such a case it has-heretofore been necessary to shut off the water from the whole system, thereby rendering the same inoperative and endangering the whole building in case of fire.

My improved device is a hand operated plug or stopper which be hung in any convenient place in each room throughout a building so that should one of the sprinkler heads spring a leak it can be quickly stopped I and made tight againwithout the aid of a skilled attendant, until such time as the same may be permanently repaired by the proper workman.

Another feature of my device is that the same is constructed so that in case of fire, while the stopper is in position, it will fuse and become automatically disengaged and allow the head to open, just the same as if the original fuse plug were in position.

With these objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

' In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1-shows a side elevation of a sprinkler head, sectioned between its arm, and showing my hand stopping device in position. Fig. 2-shows the head in side elevation, and an end elevation of the stopping device in position between the arms. Fig. 3'shows a detail of the head or blade of the stopper with its camshaped end, and theremovable portion withdrawn a short distance from the main portion, plainly showing the fuse line, a portion of the handle also in section.

Referring to the drawings at 1 is the body portion of an ordinary automatic sprinkler head, which may be made in any desired or convenient form, and at 2 is the threaded projection which screws into the pipe line.

At 3-3 are the upwardly extending arched arms which form a yoke or bridge, theunder portion'4 of which serves to engage the stopping device and hold it in position to close the aperture 5 in the sprinklerhead.

The blade or body portion 6 of the stopping device, as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and3, may be made of any suitable material, but I preferably construct the same ofa comparatively thin piece of brass or similar metal to which a fusible metal will adhere. One edge of this blade is cut on an angle, as at 7, and to this angular edge is secured an outer or end piece 8, by means of soft solder, or other suitable material, which will fuse at a comparativelylow temperature, the two pieces being securely joined together so as to resist any ordinary strain before breaking. Theentering end of this piece 8 is rounded off as at 9 forming a cam-like edge whereby when the device is being inserted into position the raising of the handle will cause a great pressure on the stopper. At 15 is a little notch into which the edge 4 of the bridge snaps, by the pressure of the stopper, to hold the device firmly in position to close the aperture in the sprinkler head. Opposite the beveled edge of this body portion is an outwardly projecting pin portion 10 on which projection is heldra corking plug 11, which ispreferably constructed of some flexible material, such as rubber, cork or the like. A bearing washer 12 is inserted at the upper face of this plug.

At 13 is a shank which projects outwardly from the blade, which shank is adapted to enter a correspond- The cam portion 9 engages the underside of the yoke at 4, and by raising the handle said cam portion is forced further under the yoke and great'pressure is brought to bear on the stopper, forcing the same tightly into the aperture, and when the edge of the bridge enters the little notch in the blade the same is held firmly in position, effectually closing the aperture in the head. This device may stay in this position as long as desired, or until permanent repairs may be made to the head, and should a fire occur while the same is in position the heatwill fuse the solder at 7, release the outer portion 8, which then drops off, and the water pressure in the pipe will at once force out the cork and the head becomes free to do its duty the same as though the original fuse plug had been in position.

In removing the device by hand it is onlynecessary to carry the handle downward, thereby withdrawing the cam edge from the yoke, and the stopper is then free to be withdrawn. I

The device is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture, is of practical construction and effective in its operation.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. As a new article of manufacture a stopper for sprinkler heads comprising a body portion having a manipulating handle, a plug on said body, a separate and independent retaining member secured to said body by fusible m aterial whereby said stopper may be released to be automatically removed when subjected to heat.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a sprinkler head provided with an outlet aperture, a stopper comprising a body portion having a manipulating handle, a plug on said body, means for pressing and re taining said plug in position to close said aperture, and means whereby the retaining portion of the device will be automatically removed to release the plug when the same is subjected to heat.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a sprinkler head provided with an outlet aperture, a stopper comprising a body portion having a manipulating handle, a plug on said body, a separate and independent retaining member secured to said body whereby said plug may be pressed and retained in position to close said outlet, said retaining member being held in position on said body portion by fusible material whereby the same will be automatically released and the stopper removed when subjected to heat.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a sprinkler head provided with an outlet aperture, a yoke on said head, a stopper comprising a body portion having a manipulating handle, a plug on said body, a separate and independent cam-shaped retaining member secured to said body and adapted to engage said yoke whereby said plug may be pressed and retained in position to close said outlet, said retaining member being held in position on said body portion by fusible material whereby the same will be automatically released and the stopper removed when subjected to heat.

5. In adevice of the character described, the combination of a sprinkler head provided with an outlet aperture, a stopper comprising a body portion formed of a thin blade or plate having a manipulating handle, a flexible plug on said body, a separate and independent retaining member secured to said body whereby said plug may be pressed and retained in position to close said outlet, the attaching edge of said member being on an angle to the line of pressure, said retaining member being held in position on said body portion by fusible material whereby the same will be automatically released and the stopper removed when subjected to heat.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ADOLF E. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

HOWARD E. BAnLow, E. I. OGDEN. 

